Cooling assembly for vehicle interior

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes: a main body; a rotary electric machine provided in the main body; a driving battery configured to be chargeable and dischargeable and supply power to the rotary electric machine; a cooling box detachable from the main body; at least one detachable battery detachable from the main body; and a charger configured to charge the detachable battery with power supplied from the driving battery, the detachable battery being configured to be attachable to the cooling box.

This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2017-211876 filed on Nov. 1, 2017, with the Japan Patent Office, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, and more particularly, to avehicle comprising a cooling box.

Description of the Background Art

International Publication No. 2012/141214 describes a vehicle in whichdevices such as a car stereo, a camera, an air conditioner and the likeare detachably configured and each device is provided with a batteryintegrally.

SUMMARY

However, in the above vehicle, each device is provided with a battery,and when the device is taken outside the vehicle, and the amount ofpower stored in the battery is reduced, it is necessary to again chargethe battery in the vehicle.

In that case, it is necessary to carry the battery together with thedevice provided therewith, which will be significantly cumbersome for auser who takes the device out of the vehicle and thus uses it.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above issue, and anobject thereof is to provide a vehicle allowing a cooling box to betaken out of the vehicle, which enhances convenience in using thecooling box outside the vehicle.

According to the present disclosure, a vehicle comprises: a main body; arotary electric machine provided in the main body; a driving batteryconfigured to be chargeable and dischargeable and supply power to therotary electric machine; a cooling box detachable from the main body; atleast one detachable battery detachable from the main body; and acharger configured to charge the detachable battery with power suppliedfrom the driving battery. The detachable battery is configured to beattachable to the cooling box.

The main body has formed therein a passenger compartment configured toaccommodate a passenger therein and an accommodation compartmentadjacent to the passenger compartment in a front-rear direction. Themain body includes a floor panel forming a bottom surface of the mainbody and a partition panel partitioning the accommodation compartment.The charger is provided between the floor panel and the partition panel.The cooling box is provided on an upper surface of the partition panel.The detachable battery is configured to be attachable to a device usedoutside the vehicle. The charger is configured to charge a plurality ofsuch detachable batteries.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent disclosure will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present disclosure when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a rear side of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a rear hatch opened.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a lid and its surroundingconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a cooling box.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of thevehicle.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cooling boxis taken outside.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing an electric stove.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle according to an embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 9. Of the configurations shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9, anyconfiguration that is identical or substantially identical isidentically denoted and will not be described redundantly.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle 1 according to the presentembodiment. Vehicle 1 comprises a main body 2, a front wheel 3, and arear wheel 4.

Main body 2 has a passenger compartment 5 and accommodation compartments6, 7 formed therein. Passenger compartment 5 is a space in which apassenger is accommodated. Accommodation compartment 7 is formed in mainbody 2 frontwardly of passenger compartment 5. Accommodation compartment6 is formed in main body 2 rearwardly of passenger compartment 5.

Vehicle 1 includes a front seat 8 and a rear seat 9, and front seat 8and rear seat 9 are accommodated in passenger compartment 5. Front seat8 is provided in main body 2 frontwardly of rear seat 9. Rear seat 9 isprovided so as to define passenger compartment 5 and accommodationcompartment 6 within vehicle 1.

Main body 2 includes a rear hatch 10 and a front hatch 11, and fronthatch 11 is provided to main body 2 so as to open and closeaccommodation compartment 7.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a rear side of vehicle 1. Rearhatch 10 is provided to main body 2 so as to be capable of opening andclosing accommodation compartment 6.

Main body 2 includes a floor panel 15. Floor panel 15 is a metallicplate-shaped member and forms a bottom surface of main body 2. Floorpanel 15 includes a center panel 16 and a rear panel 17. Center panel 16forms a bottom surface of passenger compartment 5, and rear panel 17forms a bottom surface of accommodation compartment 6.

Vehicle 1 comprises a driving battery 20, a PCU (Power Control Unit) 21,a rotary electric machine 22, a cooling box 23, a partition panel 24, adetachable battery 25, and a charger 26.

Driving battery 20, PCU 21, and rotary electric machine 22 are providedon a side under a lower surface of floor panel 15.

Partition panel 24 defines an interior of accommodation compartment 6,and cooling box 23 is provided on an upper surface of partition panel24. Detachable battery 25 and charger 26 are provided on a side under alower surface of partition panel 24. Charger 26 is provided on an uppersurface of rear panel 17, and a plurality of detachable batteries 25 areconnected to charger 26.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with rear hatch 10 opened. Partition panel24 is provided with a lid 27. Lid 27 is provided at a position adjacentto a location of cooling box 23.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing lid 27 and its surroundingconfiguration. Lid 27 is provided to an accommodation case 29, andcharger 26 and a plurality of detachable batteries 25 are accommodatedin accommodation case 29. In this manner, the plurality of detachablebatteries 25 and the like are disposed under the lower surface ofpartition panel 24.

This can prevent charger 26 from occupying a space for accommodatingbaggage and the like, and ensures a large space for accommodatingbaggage.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of cooling box 23. Cooling box 23includes a main body 30, doors 31, 32, 33, and Peltier elements 35, 36.In main body 30, a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment,and a battery accommodation compartment 34 are formed. Note that thecooling box has at least one of a refrigerating function and a freezingfunction.

Door 31 is provided to main body 30 so as to be capable of opening andclosing the freezing compartment, and Peltier element 35 is provided inthe freezing compartment. Peltier element 35 is driven to cool airinside the freezing compartment.

Door 32 is provided to main body 30 so as to be capable of opening andclosing the refrigerating compartment. In the refrigerating compartmentPeltier element 36 is provided. Peltier element 36 is driven to cool airinside the refrigerating compartment.

Cooling box 23 is supported by a circular-shaped base 38 formed on anupper surface of partition panel 24. Inside base 38, a connectionterminal 37 is provided. Cooling box 23 has a bottom surface providedwith a connecting portion (not shown), and when cooling box is attachedto base 38, the connection portion of cooling box 23 is connected toconnection terminal 37. Peltier elements 35 and 36 are thus suppliedwith power and thus driven. Note that cooling box 23 can be installed ina variety of types of structures.

Door 33 is provided to main body 30 so as to be capable of opening andclosing battery accommodation compartment 34. Battery accommodationcompartment 34 is formed so as to accommodate detachable battery 25. Aterminal connected to detachable battery 25 is provided in batteryaccommodation compartment 34, and power is supplied from detachablebattery 25 to Peltier elements 35, 36 through this terminal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration ofvehicle 1. Vehicle 1 comprises an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 40, anSMR (system main relay) 41, a DC/DC converter 42, an auxiliary battery43, and relays 44, 47, 48.

Driving battery 20 is connected to PCU 21 via SMR 41. PCU 21 isconnected to rotary electric machine 22. Rotary electric machine 22 isconnected to rear wheel 4 shown in FIG. 1. SMR 41 is configured toconnect PCU 21 and driving battery 20 and disconnect PCU 21 and drivingbattery 20.

PCU 21 receives DC power from driving battery 20, converts the DC powerinto AC power, and supplies the AC power to rotary electric machine 22.Rotary electric machine 22 receives the AC power and thereby generates adriving force to rotate rear wheel 4. Note that PCU 21 is driven basedon a command issued from ECU 40.

DC/DC converter 42 is connected to driving battery 20 via relay 44.Charger 26 and auxiliary battery 43 are connected to DC/DC converter 42.

Charger 26 includes a plurality of relays 45 and a plurality of chargingterminals 46. Charging terminal 46 is for supplying power to detachablebattery 25.

When detachable battery 25 is connected to charging terminal 46, relays44, 45 are closed, and via DC/DC converter 42 DC power is supplied todetachable battery 25 through charging terminal 46. Once charging ofdetachable battery 25 has been completed, relay 45 is opened.

The plurality of charging terminals 46 are each provided with relay 45,and each relay 45 and each charging terminal 46 are connected to DC/DCconverter 42 in parallel. Therefore, even when a plurality of detachablebatteries 25 are attached, detachable batteries 25 can be individuallycharged.

Peltier elements 35, 36 are connected to auxiliary battery 43 via relays47, 48. When cooling the air in cooling box 23, ECU 40 closes relays 47,48. ECU 40 drives DC/DC converter 42 to supply power to Peltier element35 and Peltier element 36. Thus the air in the refrigerating compartmentand the air in the freezing compartment are cooled by Peltier element 35and Peltier element 36.

Vehicle 1 configured as described above allows a user to carry coolingbox 23 to outside the vehicle. Specifically, in FIG. 5, by liftingcooling box 23 upward, cooling box 23 can be removed from base 38.

Then, lid 27 shown in FIG. 4 is opened, and detachable battery 25 istaken out. Detachable battery 25 is attached in battery accommodationcompartment 34. Once detachable battery 25 has been attached, Peltierelements 35 and 36 are supplied with power and thus driven thereby.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which cooling box 23 istaken outside.

A bicycle 50 is an electrically assisted bicycle. Bicycle 50 includes amain body 51, a terminal mount 52, and a motor 53. Terminal mount 52allows detachable battery 25 to be attached thereto.

Terminal mount 52 selectively supplies electric power from the attacheddetachable battery 25 to motor 53. When the user pedals bicycle 50,motor 53 assists the user to do so.

In this manner, bicycle 50 allows detachable battery 25 to be attachedthereto and can also be used outside vehicle 1. In the example shown inFIG. 7, cooling box 23 is placed on a rack of bicycle 50.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing an electric stove 60.Electric stove 60 includes a main body 61, a power supply unit 62, andan electric cord 63.

Power supply unit 62 allows detachable battery 25 to be attachedthereto. When detachable battery 25 is attached to power supply unit 62,the power of detachable battery 25 is supplied to main body 61 throughelectric cord 63. Main body 61 is provided with a heating unit therein,and heated to high temperature by the power supplied from detachablebattery 25. Foodstuff disposed on a top surface of main body 61 can thusbe cooked.

While cooling box 23, bicycle 50, and electric stove 60 are used,detachable battery 25 may have small power stored therein or may run outof power.

In that case, the user can take another charged detachable battery 25out of vehicle 1 and attach it to cooling box 23, bicycle 50, electricstove 60, and the like to continue to use them.

The user can attach detachable battery 25 having a reduced amount ofpower stored therein to charger 26 to thus charge detachable battery 25.

Thus, according to vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, by replacingdetachable battery 25 with another, cooling box 23 can be continuouslyused outside vehicle 1. Bicycle 50 and electric stove 60 used outsidevehicle 1 can also be similarly used continuously.

In particular, in vehicle 1, a plurality of detachable batteries 25 canbe charged, and detachable batteries 25 can be attached to a pluralityof devices.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle 1A which is a modifiedexample of vehicle 1. In vehicle 1A, cooling box 23 is accommodated inaccommodation compartment 7, and detachable battery 25 and charger 26are disposed under partition panel 24. In this way, cooling box 23, andpartition panel 24 and detachable battery 25 may be separated.

That is, cooling box 23, and partition panel 24 and detachable battery25 are disposed in at least one of accommodation compartment 7 andaccommodation compartment 6.

While an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described, itshould be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein has beendescribed for the purpose of illustration only and in a non-restrictivemanner in any respect. The scope of the present disclosure is defined bythe terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modificationswithin the meaning and scope equivalent to the terms of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle comprising: a main body; a rotaryelectric machine provided in the main body; a driving battery configuredto be chargeable and dischargeable and supply power to the rotaryelectric machine; a cooling box detachable from the main body; at leastone detachable battery detachable from the main body; and a chargerconfigured to charge the detachable battery with power supplied from thedriving battery, the detachable battery being configured to beattachable to the cooling box.
 2. The vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the main body has formed therein a passenger compartmentconfigured to accommodate a passenger therein and an accommodationcompartment adjacent to the passenger compartment in a front-reardirection, the main body includes a floor panel forming a bottom surfaceof the main body and a partition panel partitioning the accommodationcompartment, the charger is provided between the floor panel and thepartition panel, and the cooling box is provided on an upper surface ofthe partition panel.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein thedetachable battery is configured to be attachable to a device usedoutside the vehicle.
 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein thecharger is configured to charge a plurality of detachable batteries.